uk+kiwi

Hi,

Anyone live/d in Abu Dhabi?

Husband has just had a call (out of the blue) about a job there.

The pay mentioned, for a Global Investment Bank was £35k tax free. I told him it was a "crap salary". In that it is less than he takes home now in the UK. And how do living costs compare?

Maybe I jumped the gun? Is it usual to have substantial benefits on top of this, such as free/subsidised housing, private school fees, annual plane tickets home etc. Thoughts/comments please?

Additionally, if anyone has opinions about the lifestyle there for a family that would be welcome. We have children aged 7 and 6.

Spent 7 years living in Saudi myself as a child. It was great.

Thanks for any ideas/comment.

Cham128

what is it that he actually does as a job though? and did they offer other benefits as well like healthcare, schooling, housing? don't forget it is tax free as well

Meow

£35K isn't much, but you need to ask about the package. Some companies offer generous benefit packages (rent allowances, school fees etc), but by no means all. Even so, as basic of £35K for a global investment bank is still low for a senior position.

shakh your bootie

Unless they are offering a housing allowance of at least AED 120,000 (and you don't mind living in an apartment), school fees, medical and flights you will really struggle on 35K. Your first instinct was right - don't do it.

One of our posters (IndieGirl) is our resident expert on the banking industry. She can offer you some sound advice on what to expect career and salary wise.

shakh your bootie

meow is pretty smart, too.

uk+kiwi

I know the salary is tax free, but it is less than his current take home pay in the UK. No mention of other benefits, but it was just one quick phone call, actually about another job with this one thrown in as a 'fancy this?'.

Having looked more closely at the job role, it looks like a more junior one in terms of the 'duties' and experience required and thus would not be comparable.

But I was still curious about lifestyle and also 'normal' benefits/packages. We obviously wouldn't move if we were worse off, so personally, at a minimum the salary would have to match his current one with the advantage that it is tax free. Plus housing, school fees & health etc. I wondered how realistic this was from others experiences. I have 2 friends in Dubai who earn (a lot!) more tax free than they did in the UK, for instance.

uk+kiwi

Thanks. I know it's not enough. TBH, I think it's a job for someone with 2-5years experience as opposed to hubbie's 13.

Also, giving up a spacious family home for an apartment doesn't sound ideal. The children are always out riding their bikes, climbing trees in the garden etc. Are there not villa complexes with communal pools, tennis courts etc? (That's what I had in Saudi as a child).

So what's a (really) good package for a middle manager with an excellent track record?

What would the 'feeling' to 70k plus benefits be for example?

uk+kiwi

I would have thought 35k was low for good secretary, since they can earn > 50k in London.

Even with a good package covering all of those things it sounds low. Don't you think? But I don't know how much bills, food, petrol, eating out etc costs.

Meow

Few secretaries earn that. Few even earn as much as £35K. Proper PAs however, are a different matter.


For detail of expenditure, please have a look at the links at the top of the page. It has all been covered many times.

You could also ask for an exploratory visit. Even if you don't make the move, you may get a free trip!

Cham128

right that's it i'm moving into banking/finance... all the jobs i've been looking have been 35-40k and i thought that was pretty good!

IndieG

Sorry, just saw this. The salary is cr@p and almost insulting. The absolute minimum is AED 60-70k per month for someone with your husband's experience. Investment Banks are paying top money, and forget Abu Dhabi, look for jobs in the DIFC, they're plenty going in the IB area.

At Director level the salary is about AED 80k-100k per month plus bonus.

Inselaffen

I knew Id gone into the wrong career

IndieG

Well, if you don't mind working with your brain in neutral most of the time, then banking is for you.....

Inselaffen

I specialise in it. Thats why I took electives in Equity Finance and Debt Finance on the LPC

IndieG

you're CEO material then.........